Thread: Helping other motorists in trouble

I agree it's a bloody disgrace, but good on ya Craig well done mate!

Good stuff, Craig!

A few years back I came across a young bloke who'd run off the road into a ditch. He and his passengers were unhurt.

I pulled him out with the RR and told him to get on his way as there were cops booking another bloke up the road. The young bloke would probably have been booked for neg. driving had the cops arrived - to have gone off the road where he did would have been questioned.

It was surprising how many cars drove past.

Yeah, it's a real disappointment. Not all that long back I found someone injured in the national park. With no presenting signs of spinal injury and no way of calling for help as no phone or uhf. I carried them out.

On getting them out I tried to hail down a couple of dozen vehicles. Not one stopped. This person was obviously injured when looking at them and still no one stopped.

I think people are scared they will be robbed or worse more then just being selfish in thinking you'll make them late.

Xav

Yep... It's a product of the times...

I've stopped many a time to help someone...

But on a few occasions I've also been attacked, had a beer bottle thrown at me and once an attempted carjack when I stopped.

So I also understand why people are 'self focused'

Originally Posted by Tombie2

But on a few occasions I've also been attacked, had a beer bottle thrown at me and once an attempted carjack when I stopped.

Whyalla has changed since I was last there.

(Admittedly, that was in 1970. We didn't hve a dentist in Ceduna so we had to go to Whyalla for dental work).

I stopped to render assistance late one night, between Marla & Coober Pedy. I could see hazard lights flashing for a good distance & found a large van pulled up with an unlit XD Falcon towing a 22' caravan. The alternetor on the Ford had gone to lunch but the German tourist couple, with their 3yo daughter, kept driving until the battery was flatter than the proverbial pancake! As I was the only one with anything slightly resembling recovery gear (i.e. 20' ot 12mm rope) it was decided to turn the car around with the van then I would tow it & it's occupants to Marla. The guy was a bit concerned about how much power my truck could generate, after all I was already towing 3 trailers. I told him that I thought it should be to manage it. On arrival at Marla they told me how terrifying the 100k north had been for them; the most promonant thing on the back of the truck had been the DG placard, UN 1203 PETROL Whilst trying to stuff $50 notes into my hand he revealed his occupation, electrical engineer True story. I wasn't told, but I suspect he was a highly ranked military officer too

Good onya Craig, well done.

In 1995, I was working near Wodonga in Victoria, on the way home from work I stopped at a newsagent just on the north side of the railway line. I was inside and browsing through some mags when a breathless lady ran into the shop. She was distressed and asked the shopkeeper to call an ambulance. I heard that much and asked her what was wrong? She said, "He is dead, he is dead!"....I said where?..."outside, outside!"

I ran out of the shop and saw a man lying on the ground in the walkway across the railway line, about 75m away. I ran to him and he was flat on his back, and as blue as blue...and yes, there were cars driving past.

I checked his ABCs. He was not breathing and I could not detect a pulse, so I went straight into CPR. I really don't know how long I was doing it for, each time I came up for compression I could see people were gathering, they were running to get there. I pleaded, "can anyone help?!"...not one offered and there would have been at least 30 people.

The ambulance arrived and I kept breathing and compressing him, until they got all their kit out and were able to take over with oxygen, and paddles.....by now he was on a gurney in the back of the ambulance with one attendant, and the other bloke driving.

I turned around and some of the on-lookers were still there....I told them to..."****-off!!". Went back to my car, and drove home. I could not sleep that night with not knowing.

I went to work at Army TAFE at Bonegilla. Sometime before lunch I was called to attend the CO's office. I went and reported to his secretary and she directed me into his office, I saluted him and then saw there were two policemen in his office.

The CO asked me what had happened to me on the way home yesterday. I related that I had went to the assistance of an elderly gentleman in the main street of Wodonga. The older policeman chipped in and said, "and CAPT, you saved his life, thanks". They had tracked me down because I was in uniform; nametag on my shirt.

He ended up not being so old, only 64. His family contacted me, and after a couple of months I and my family were guests of honour at his 65th birthday.

The military ended up giving me a commendation. Would I, could I, do it again? Yes, Without a thought.

It is true though, most of the public become stunned and mute observers.

Originally Posted by p38arover

Whyalla has changed since I was last there.

(Admittedly, that was in 1970. We didn't hve a dentist in Ceduna so we had to go to Whyalla for dental work).

LOL... Certainly wasnt here... A few were in Sydney when I lived there.
One half way to Melb and a couple of incidents in Perth when I lived there.